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The Week Ahead

Week Ahead: Up and Comers

Among the Strong Plays in next week's batch of two-start pitchers, we find a few of the usual suspects, such as CC Sabathia, Doug Fister and Clayton Kershaw. But we also find some less heralded hurlers who have really taken the league by storm this year.

There's Julio Teheran of the Braves. The top prospect got off to a rough start and owned a 5.08 ERA at the end of April but has since settled into a major groove, with a 2.11 ERA and 35/7 K/BB ratio in six starts since the beginning of May. He's a no-brainer with match-ups against the Padres and Giants.

Then there's Chicago's Scott Feldman. He seemed like a somewhat odd pickup for the Cubs at $6 million given his lack of sustained success in Texas, but Theo Epstein and Co. are looking like geniuses now that the right-hander has posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in his first 11 starts. Feldman gets the Reds at home and the Mets on the road.

Alex Cobb of the Rays is another name that stands out. The young righty had enjoyed moderate success in Tampa the past two seasons but is suddenly looking like the staff ace as he's 6-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 69/17 K/BB ratio in 75 innings. He's scheduled to face the Red Sox and Royals in Tropicana.

Each of the players above has taken his game to another level, though in each case it's not entirely surprising since they're all young pitchers with upside. Perhaps the most shocking name listed this week is Bartolo Colon, who appeared cooked as a 40-year-old coming off a 50-game PED suspension. Instead, he's headed toward perhaps the best season of his career, with a 7-2 record and 3.14 ERA in 12 starts for Oakland. In his last four starts, Colon is 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA. Wow.

Friday, 6/14: John Danks @ HOUDanks hasn't looked great since returning to the White Sox in late May, but he does have two quality starts in three turns. He shouldn't have too much trouble with the Astros.

Saturday, 6/15: A.J. Griffin vs. SEAGriffin is coming off a lights-out performance against the Brewers and has been quite solid overall this season, with a 3.67 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.

National League

Tuesday, 6/11: Jacob Turner vs. MILTurner has been outstanding in his first two starts this season, allowing only one run over 13 innings. Hard to imagine that lasting long, but he draws another favorable match-up this week.

Wednesday, 6/12: Tyler Cloyd @ MINIn five turns for the Phillies this season, Cloyd has four quality starts and a 3.68 ERA. There's still seemingly potential for more strikeouts.

Saturday, 6/15: Jeremy Hefner vs. CHCHefner has had it working since a rough start to the season, with a 3.60 ERA over 50 innings in his last eight starts. He's completed six-plus frames in seven of his last eight outings.

Among the Strong Plays in next week's batch of two-start pitchers, we find a few of the usual suspects, such as CC Sabathia, Doug Fister and Clayton Kershaw. But we also find some less heralded hurlers who have really taken the league by storm this year.

There's Julio Teheran of the Braves. The top prospect got off to a rough start and owned a 5.08 ERA at the end of April but has since settled into a major groove, with a 2.11 ERA and 35/7 K/BB ratio in six starts since the beginning of May. He's a no-brainer with match-ups against the Padres and Giants.

Then there's Chicago's Scott Feldman. He seemed like a somewhat odd pickup for the Cubs at $6 million given his lack of sustained success in Texas, but Theo Epstein and Co. are looking like geniuses now that the right-hander has posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in his first 11 starts. Feldman gets the Reds at home and the Mets on the road.

Alex Cobb of the Rays is another name that stands out. The young righty had enjoyed moderate success in Tampa the past two seasons but is suddenly looking like the staff ace as he's 6-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 69/17 K/BB ratio in 75 innings. He's scheduled to face the Red Sox and Royals in Tropicana.

Each of the players above has taken his game to another level, though in each case it's not entirely surprising since they're all young pitchers with upside. Perhaps the most shocking name listed this week is Bartolo Colon, who appeared cooked as a 40-year-old coming off a 50-game PED suspension. Instead, he's headed toward perhaps the best season of his career, with a 7-2 record and 3.14 ERA in 12 starts for Oakland. In his last four starts, Colon is 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA. Wow.

Friday, 6/14: John Danks @ HOUDanks hasn't looked great since returning to the White Sox in late May, but he does have two quality starts in three turns. He shouldn't have too much trouble with the Astros.

Saturday, 6/15: A.J. Griffin vs. SEAGriffin is coming off a lights-out performance against the Brewers and has been quite solid overall this season, with a 3.67 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.

National League

Tuesday, 6/11: Jacob Turner vs. MILTurner has been outstanding in his first two starts this season, allowing only one run over 13 innings. Hard to imagine that lasting long, but he draws another favorable match-up this week.

Wednesday, 6/12: Tyler Cloyd @ MINIn five turns for the Phillies this season, Cloyd has four quality starts and a 3.68 ERA. There's still seemingly potential for more strikeouts.

Saturday, 6/15: Jeremy Hefner vs. CHCHefner has had it working since a rough start to the season, with a 3.60 ERA over 50 innings in his last eight starts. He's completed six-plus frames in seven of his last eight outings.